Tip: Andy Solomons

Andy Solomons was in the Sri Lankan squad for the recent Under-19 World Cup, but unfortunately, he didn’t get a game. We’re still tipping him for greatness.

He was recently awarded the Observer-Bata Schools Cricket ‘Most Popular Schoolboy Cricketer 2005 Outstation’ award. Not a catchy title by any means, but previous winners include Arjuna Ranatunga, Muttiah Muralitharan and Marvan Attapattu. Sri Lankan schoolboy cricket isn’t of the blue stumps and rubber ball variety with children clumsily swinging bats and giggling. Your average Sri Lankan school side would probably rack up a four-figure score against Zimbabwe. Attempt a cross-bat stroke to a well-pitched up delivery and you’ll be laughed out of town if you’re lucky. If you’re unlucky, you’ll be made an example of on the national news.

Andy Solomons is, according to Sri Lanka’s Sunday Observer, ‘a stylish right-hand bat’ and a medium pace opening bowler. His defining innings as far as we’re concerned was 263 against Lalith Athulathmudali Vidyalaya, Mount Lavinia, which included 24 fours. It also featured a Shahid Afridi-esque 21 sixes. That isn’t a typo. He scored 126 runs by clearing the ropes. Factor in 96 from fours and he only ran 41 out of 263. That’s immense, even if you’re playing in the back garden against yourself. We should know – although most of our innings tend to end when we lose the tennis ball next door after a particularly gung-ho six.

We’ve got some pictures of Andy Solomons, but we’d have to connect our scanner to our PC and it’s a hassle. If you promise to bowl at us in the back garden for a while, we’ll let you have a look at them.